The Latest: Comey says lawmakers focused on Clinton emails

Former FBI Director James Comey speaks to reporters after testifying under subpoena behind closed doors before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press)

ByAssociated Press

December 7

WASHINGTON — The Latest on former FBI Director James Comey’s closed-door interview by House Republicans (all times local):

5 p.m.

Former FBI Director James Comey says he testified again about Hillary Clinton’s emails during a closed-door interview Friday with two House committees.

Comey says House Republicans asked about Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. He says GOP lawmakers focused “a whole lot” on Clinton’s emails, telling reporters that a transcript of the six-hour interview “will bore you.”

Republicans say Comey and other Justice Department officials were biased against President Donald Trump as they investigated his campaign’s ties with Russia and cleared Clinton in a separate probe into her email use.

Comey says he will be back at the Capitol for another closed-door interview the week of Dec. 17.

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10 a.m.

Former FBI Director James Comey has arrived on Capitol Hill for a closed-door interview with two House committees.

House Republicans are questioning Comey on decisions made by the Justice Department during the 2016 presidential election. Democrats will also attend the interview.

Republicans argue that department officials were biased against Donald Trump as they started an investigation into his campaign’s ties with Russia and cleared Democrat Hillary Clinton in a separate probe into her email use.

Comey was asked on his way into the meeting room about President Trump’s assertion that he is best friends with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is overseeing the Russia probe. Comey said: “Note that I smiled.”

Comey said he might answer questions after the interview, which is expected to last much of the day.

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2 a.m.

House Republicans are preparing to interview James Comey behind closed doors, hauling the former FBI director to Capitol Hill one final time before they cede power to Democrats in January.

Comey will appear for the interview Friday after fighting a subpoena in court. Under a deal struck with the House Judiciary Committee, he can speak afterward and a transcript will be released. He had argued that Republicans would selectively leak details from the interview.

The interview comes as GOP lawmakers wrap up a yearlong investigation into decisions made at the Justice Department during the 2016 presidential election. Republicans argue department officials were biased against Donald Trump as they started an investigation into his campaign’s ties with Russia and cleared Democrat Hillary Clinton in a separate investigation of her email use.

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